Rare and Forgotten 1970 Avion Voyageur Travel Trailer Is Selling for Peanuts, Here's Why

Folks, it's not every day that you run across a travel trailer brand that some of us haven't heard of. Still, it's even rarer to encounter one from 1970 selling for no more than $152.50 (current bid on eBay at the time of publishing). No, that number is not a typo in any way - one hundred and fifty-two dollars and fifty cents are all you need for this in-need-of-much-loving machine. At least until someone places a larger bid.

Now, this little story begins with none other than Avion, a travel trailer manufacturer that's been around for decades and even popped up on the market well before a few other big names like Holiday House or even Winnebago; production ran from 1955 to 2002 so they too part in the same market as Airstream and a couple of others. However, what gave them their allure was a building technique that was very popular at the time and revolved around the use of aluminum as the main material for the shell, much like Airstream and Bowlus, just to name a few.

All that brings us to the brushed aluminum wonder - one way Avion differed from the other manufacturers at the time - before us today, a 26-foot (living space) 1970 Avion Voyager currently being sold on eBay by seller carsandmore2001, rated with a 97.5% positive rating and 777 items sold through the platform. Oh, and if you're anywhere near Auburn, Washington, go check out this deal of a lifetime in person. There's nothing about a reserve price on this, so the last bid wins.

But what are we getting our hands on? Well, that's what we're here for, and before we continue, be sure to take a closer look at the images in the gallery. That way, you'll understand why this unit is going for so cheap. I won't lie; this one's going to need a whole lot of loving to stand up to its former glory.

Starting with the exterior, we can see that the aluminum shell is still intact, albeit beaten down by the elements and even dented in some areas. One major hit is taken up along the port wall: a massive scratch is spotted. The door looks a bit warped, too, like someone bashed into it. While we can't make out much of the roof, we can see rust and berries all over it, and the AC unit is clearly busted. Who knows what lies inside?

The frame needs some elbow grease, too. According to the seller, the brakes are good, but the tires need replacing, to say the least. The roof, floor, and walls are dry, but this doesn't mean they always have been, wink-wink. I'd get an inspection on this one before dropping your hard-earned pennies at it unless you have plans for a complete restoration.

As for the interior of this unit, this is where we can really grasp the current price of this Avion. I say this because this one's in a rather shoddy condition. For example, the modular dinette is pretty destroyed, with torn cushions and a broken frame, not to mention curtains that just need to go! The flooring, if it's carpet, clearly needs to be thrown out; it'll cost you less to put in a new one. Come to think of it, you'll want to tend to the entire floor, not just the carpeting, especially in the bathroom at the rear.

Then there's the kitchen. While the cabinetry does look like it's in decent shape, some sections are clearly damaged and will need some cash thrown at them. Heck, the under-sink counter has clearly got to go and the stovetop, well, it's the same story. At best, you can restore the latter.

For the central sleeping area, we find a split-bed setup with singles on each side of the unit and cabinetry above and below. This space, too, will need your love or that of a specialist. Last but not least, we arrive at the bathroom, one of the more demolished areas in the camper. More investment is needed here, too.

Now, with all this work, the ultimate question is whether or not this thing is worth the hassle. Well, from a collector's perspective, it surely is. It really isn't every day that we find any kind of Avion unit, and even the Avion Travel Trailer Owners Club on Facebook is only comprised of a tad over 5,000 people. So, if you want to be a part of a select group of people and lovers of RVs, this one's or you. Just keep in mind what you're buying and the state it's in.